Canoe the Wayne Contact Us The Wayne has three offices to serve visitors. There are three Office hours are 8 - 4:30 Monday through Wayne National Forest canoeable rivers on the Friday. Wayne, the Little Musk- ingum River on the Marietta Athens Ranger District Canoeing unit, the Hocking River on 13700 U.S. Hwy 33 the Athens unit, and Symmes Nelsonville, OH 45764 Creek on the Ironton District. All Phone: 740-753-0101 three have access points on public land and provide a tranquil float, ideal for Marietta Unit Office family canoeing. 27515 State Route 7 Marietta, OH 45750 Little Muskingum River Phone: 740-373-9055 The Little Muskingum River northeast of Marietta Ironton Ranger District meanders along through forested hills and pas- 6518 State Route 93 tures. It parallels the Covered Bridge Scenic Pedro, OH 45659 Byway for most of its length. The area provides a Phone: 740-534-6500 backdrop of historic barns, covered bridges, and Federal relay system for the deaf and hearing century old farmhouses. Although subject to sea- impaired: 1-800-877-8339 sonal low water, this is our finest canoeable river website: www.fs.usda.gov/wayne in southeastern Ohio. Facebook: The river appears muddy, and in fact, the Indian https://www.facebook.com/waynenationalforest word Muskingum translates to mean muddy river. The river is scenic however, with overhanging To help slow the spread of emerald ash borer trees and traverses some of Ohio’s most beautiful and other invasive pests, no firewood may be transported onto Wayne National Forest countryside. Rural landscapes, cross-road commu- lands, except commercially packaged wood nities, bluffs and rock outcrops, big shady trees, with the USDA inspection and abundant wildlife will add interest to your trip. label. You may collect a small LNk Canoers paddle under covered bridges which have amount (what can be carried by spanned the river for over a century. hand) of down and dead fire- wood to be used at your recre- Four National Forest campgrounds are located ation site. on the river’s banks within a 27-mile stretch. For USDA is an equal opportunity provider those who choose multiple day canoe trips these and employer. campgrounds allow floaters to stop, camp, and Forest FS-R9-021 savor the natural beauty of this area. Service 05/2015 aN Access Points and Camping on the Little Muskingum Four campgrounds provide easy access to the river for fishing or wading and some access for launching canoes. Fishing is generally very good, with 52 species of fishfound in the river including the endangered Ohio brook lamprey and stream muskellunge. Fishable species include muskie, large and small-mouth bass, crappie, catfish, and rockbass. The access points are known for offer- ing some of the best small mouth bass fishing on the Wayne. Due to high water damage some of these campgrounds may be temporarily closed for repairs each season. Each of the campgrounds are also trailheads for hikers to access the North Country Trail. Through these trailheads, hikers and backpackers have ac- cess to over 70 miles of trail. Little Muskingum River from the Hune Bridge Access Point. Little Muskingum River at Moss Run and below Hune Bridge during a river cleanup. Hocking River The Hocking is one of the largest rivers in Ohio, and a portion of it flows through the Wayne National Forest, near Nelsonville and Athens. There are only a handful of national forest tracts with frontage to the Hocking River, and undeveloped boat access is only available in a couple places. Canoes and kayaks are ideal to use on the river. A website for more information on the Hocking River is at http://hockingriver.org. Contact the Hocking Hills Tourism Association in Logan for information on canoe rentals. Symmes Creek Symmes Creek is a Class 1 water trail, traveling 99 miles through Lawrence County, Ohio and is ideal for a family canoe trip. Thirty-one miles of it are easily canoeable. Thirty spe- cies of fish, including muskie, bass, crappie and catfish can be found in Symmes Creek, which is also home to 18 species of mussels, including 3 Ohio threatened and endangered species. Boaters on Symmes Creek can expect to see abundant wild- flowers and rock outcrops as well as turkey, deer, beaver, songbirds, rap- tors and a host of other wildlife as they travel through striking forests and scenic farmlands. The Symmes Creek watershed is one of Lawrence County’s largest, draining the central area of the county from north to south. The Forest works closely with the Symmes Creek Restoration Committee (SCRC) to manage this creek. This group was incorporated in May of 1977 as a not-for-profit corporation. They remove logjams and promote public interest in the water quality in Symmes Creek. SCRC, working with the Wayne National Forest, the Law- rence County Commissioners and the Symmes Valley Schools have established the Arthur S. Ferguson, Jr. Canoe Trail in 2004. The canoe trail honors the group’s founder (pictured at right). It is a 31-mile stretch of Symmes Creek between Waterloo and Chesapeake, Ohio and takes two days to travel. Symmes Creek in fall. Chesapeake - The launch at Chesapeake (shown below) is located at the mouth of Symmes Creek. Access Points on Symmes Creek It is 0.25 mile north of SR 7 on CR 123. The ramp There will eventually be 6 access points along the has a 30-foot wide boat ramp, and parking for over 31-mile Symmes Creek canoe trail. Three of these 50 cars, as well as a grassy area for picnicking. sites are now constructed and currently being used. Lat/Long: 38.429824, -82.451395 The others are in the process of being developed. Site Status Mile # CANOEING GUIDANCE 1. Waterloo, OH Proposed 0.0 SAFETY 2. Arabia, OH Complete 4.5 Aid - This launch site is located 0.5 mile north of • Canoeing should be a fun adventure if you use 3. Aid, OH Complete 12.8 Aid, Ohio and 0.5 mile south of Symmes Valley caution for a safe trip. Watch for poison ivy along 4. Willow Wood, OH Complete 18.4 Schools on SR 141. Lat/Long: 38.60113, the banks and bad weather. 5. Getaway, OH Complete 26.4 -89.494745 • Water levels can rise quickly after rains so be alert 6. Sky Lake, OH Complete 32.5 Willow Wood - This launch is just north of the for possible flooding. 7. Chesapeake, OH Complete 36.2 Willow Wood Bridge at the intersection of SRs • Tell someone when and where you are going and 378 and 217. Lat/Long: 38.55652, -82.469387 when you plan to return. Completed Sites Getaway - This launch is on SR 243 immediately FISHING Arabia - This launch site on the Wayne National south of the CR 17 bridge Canoes are launched Fishing is licensed and regulated by the Ohio De- Forest. There is public parking and a launch ramp by means of a small watercourse taht intersects partment of Natural Resources. available. A grocery store and restaurant are lo- Symmes Creek. Lat/Long: 38.48582, -82.46759 cated one mile away on SR 141. TRESPASSING Lat/Long: 38.6619, -82.47794 Sky Lake - This site is at Sky Lake fishing Lake Much of the land along the rivers is in private approximately 2.5 miles north of SR 7 on CR 32. ownership. To insure you stop on public land you Lat/Long: 38.453135, -82.438209 should obtain maps from one of our offices, which shows the river at a larger scale and indicates loca- tion of public ownership. DRINKING WATER Carry a supply of drinking water with you. Do not drink from springs along the river. PACK IN - PACK OUT If you can carry it in, you can carry it out. Go one step further and carry out trash that less thoughtful people have left behind. Leave only your footprints on the banks..